dat
The English phrase 'that' is translated into Jamaican as dat.
dat is used to indicate what is being indicated.
Meaning: what is being indicated (det)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word dat functions as a demonstrative pronoun or determiner, just like 'that' in English.
Did you know?
- Using dat instead of 'that' in a professional Jamaican environment can instantly signal a shift from a formal persona to a relaxed and communal one.
- In Jamaican Patois, dat is often used in place of the English word 'it' if the object is physically present or was just mentioned in conversation.
- When used to refer to a person, dat can carry a much stronger sense of dismissal or emotional distance than the English word 'that'.
Examples in context
- Dat car deh sweet.That car is nice.
- Mi nuh like dat movie.I don't like that movie.
- Look pon dat bird!Look at that bird!
Example conversation
Kevon and Tanesha are walking through a market.
- KevonYuh see dat mango deh?Do you see that mango there?
- TaneshaYeah, it look ripe.Yes, it looks ripe.
- KevonMi wah buy dat one.I want to buy that one.
- TaneshaDen mek we go get it.Then let's go get it.
